“The most important thing is his health,” Panthers coach Ron Rivera told Panthers.com’s Max Henson. “Michael’s health always came first. We were not going to force the issue. Michael understood and we expressed that to him.”

After starting the first three games of the 2016 season, Oher sustained a concussion and was inactive for several weeks before being placed on injured reserve.

The former Ole Miss star and subject of the movie The Blind Side started every game for the Panthers during their NFC Championship and Super Bowl-run season. He helped lead the line on an offense that set many NFL records.

Oher’s eight-year NFL career also includes a Super Bowl XLVII title with the Baltimore Ravens, the team that drafted him from the Rebels.